Jim Lehrer
WETA to create subsidiary for transfer of PBS NewsHour ownership
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WETA’s board of trustees unanimously authorized the transfer, which does not involve any cash, at a June 17 meeting in Arlington, Va.
Programs/Content
MacNeil, Lehrer propose to transfer ownership of PBS NewsHour to WETA
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Leaders of MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, the company behind the PBS NewsHour, are negotiating to transfer ownership to co-producer WETA in Arlington, Va., according to an internal letter sent Tuesday to staffers. Program founders and original co-anchors Jim Lehrer and Robin MacNeil wrote that their reasons for relinquishing ownership at this time include “the probability of increasing our fundraising abilities” for the weeknightly news magazine. The New York Times reported in June that the program was in financial trouble and had received infusions of cash from PBS several times over the past year. Currently, Lehrer and MacNeil share ownership with Liberty Media, which acquired a majority interest in MacNeil/Lehrer Productions (MLP) 18 years ago. Liberty owns interests in various media, communications and entertainment businesses including SiriusXM, Barnes & Noble and the Atlanta Braves Major League Baseball franchise.
Hari Sreenivasan
NewsHour Weekend adapts PBS flagship for new timeslot, lean production model
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PBS backed the startup of NewsHour Weekend as the core element of a revamped approach to its weekend public affairs programs. It was cast as a platform for experimentation.